Custody review

Prime Minister John Howard has announced a parliamentary committee will consider whether joint child custody should be presumed after the breakdown of a marriage.

Mr Howard says the committee will investigate what factors should be taken into account when deciding how much time a child should spend with each parent.

He says it will also consider circumstances in which a court could order the children to have contact with others, including grandparents, and whether child support payments should be reduced if non-custodial parents spend more time with their children.

Mr Howard says he has a particular concern about role models for young boys.

"One of the regrettable features of society at the present time is that far too many young boys are growing up without proper male role models," he said.

So is this investigation warranted and, if so, what areas should the committee focus on?

Or are the current arrangements adquate?

Should grandparents have the right to access grandchildren in a situation where the parents have divorced?

And how important is it for children to spend time with both their mums and dads after a divorce?